Cuttlefish are marine mollusks belonging to the class Cephalopoda, which also includes squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. They are known for their intelligence, camouflage abilities, and unique internal shell called a cuttlebone. Cuttlefish have W-shaped pupils, eight arms, and two tentacles used for capturing prey.
There are around 120 species of cuttlefish, classified under the order Sepiida. Some well-known species include:
Cuttlefish are found in shallow waters, coral reefs, sandy or muddy seabeds, and seagrass meadows. They prefer temperate and tropical waters, typically at depths of 10–200 meters, though some species can go deeper.
Key regions include:
Cuttlefish are carnivorous and eat:
They use their tentacles to snatch prey quickly, often stunning them with rapid strikes. Their beak and radula help break down food.
Cuttlefish can blend into their surroundings using chromatophores, so spotting them can be tricky. However, look for:
Cuttlefish are found in warm and temperate coastal waters worldwide. Some notable locations include: